Unable to work, gov has me at 10%

[lostinsystemvet]

I was injured in the military in 2007, resulting in medical discharge. I was able to work for a few years, with progressively increasing pain; I can now barely walk. The VA doctors originally told me there was nothing wrong, accused me of being a drug seeker, said it was all in my head, etc. I now have an outside provider covered by the VA that at least believes that the pain is real but can't find the source, and has been focusing on the secondary aspects of the injury including back and other joint pain due to heavy reliance on my cane. Because this is still part of the VA program, months have gone by between appointments because of bureaucratic garbage. The 10% rating is based on the fact that comp&pen uses range of motion to determine disability, and my leg moves just fine, but they don't take into consideration at all that it doesn't support weight, preventing me from working in any menial labor type of employment, and leaves me in too much pain to focus on any technical employment. I'm living in WA, if it matters.

If I seek out a doctor unaffiliated with the VA that can finally diagnose the problem:
1) Is the VA ultimately responsible for the medical bills, given that they left me undiagnosed for over ten years?
2) Would I be entitled to back pay for the time I should have been receiving my disability pension?
3) Would I be entitled to pain and suffering for this undiagnosed time?

There's simply no way that I could afford the medical bills associated with competent medical care, but incompetent medical care has gotten me nowhere.

 

[quincy]

I recommend you get the medical attention you need and worry about the health care costs later.

 

[LdiJ]

I recommend you get the medical attention you need and worry about the health care costs later.

I agree with this if its possible to get that medical care without having the money to pay upfront. I don't have health insurance and it has been difficult sometimes to get medical care at all as a result. I had a torn retina some time back and the retina specialist would not even examine me without a 2k upfront payment. I was more than willing and able to pay as I went, but that sort of thing is not uncommon.

The interesting thing about that situation, was that I had multiple appointments, which included laser surgery to repair the tear, yet in the end, the doctor ended up refunding me just over 1k from that deposit.

 

[quincy]

I agree with this if its possible to get that medical care without having the money to pay upfront. I don't have health insurance and it has been difficult sometimes to get medical care at all as a result. I had a torn retina some time back and the retina specialist would not even examine me without a 2k upfront payment. I was more than willing and able to pay as I went, but that sort of thing is not uncommon.

The interesting thing about that situation, was that I had multiple appointments, which included laser surgery to repair the tear, yet in the end, the doctor ended up refunding me just over 1k from that deposit.

Upfront payments could be problematic, I agree.